Bezhti in another theatre?

The row took a new twist when another theatre offered to stage it.

The row over a controversial play, that members of the Sikh community in Britain claim demeans their religion, took a new twist on Monday night when another theatre in Birmingham offered to stage it.

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Officials at the Birmingham Stage Company said they would be prepared to put on the play, Bezhti (dishonour) after the Birmingham Repertory Theatre on Monday said it was scrapping the rest of the play's three-week run production.

Neal Foster, actor-manager of the Birmingham Stage Company, hoped the Repertory would change its decision but added that if it did not, his organisation, which is based at the Old Rep theatre in the city, would be prepared to put on the play.

"The story cannot end here. I will be willing to produce the play in Birmingham. I think freedom of expression is more important than health and safety."

He claimed West Midlands Police were prepared to protect the theatre for the remainder of the play's run. He was looking to discuss the matter with officials from the Rep and other venues in Birmingham with a view to staging the play, written by a young Sikh playwright, Gurpreet Kaur Bhatt.

Protesters said Behzti, which depicts sexual abuse and murder in a gurdwara, portrayed the Sikh faith negatively.